Faroe Islands Premier League - History

History

The league was founded in 1942, although clubs did not compete in European competition until 1992. From 1942 to 1975 it was called Meistaradeildin (Champions Division). Four clubs participated in the first season, they were KÍ Klaksvík (est.1904), TB Tvøroyri (est.1892), B36 Tórshavn (est.1936) and HB Tórshavn (est.1904). The first team to win the championship was KÍ Klaksvík. A Second Division was founded in 1943, but there was no relegation and promotion system at the time. The league was suspended in 1944 due to the friendly occupation of the Faroe Islands by the British army. The league resumed a year later and the current holders TB Tvøroyri, won the league again. Other teams to join in the 1940s were MB Miðvágur, SÍ Sørvágur and VB Vágur. All 3 clubs came and went, SÍ Sørvágur finished runners-up in 1945 and won the league title in 1947, this turned out to be the only period SÍ Sørvágur's history when they played in the top division. In 1952 VB Vágur joined the league again, but they only played two seasons and finished bottom of the table in both seasons. They later rejoined in 1956 and did better than previously. By 1970, KÍ Klaksvík were the most successful club in the Faroe Islands, with 14 titles. The number of teams risen to six in 1971, when ÍF Fuglafjørður entered the league and later became 7 teams in 1976 when NSÍ Runavík joined.

Changes were made in 1976 and the league was renamed '1. deild' (First Division). A relegation and promotion system was also introduced. At the end of the 1976 season one team would be relegated and one team promoted from the newly named 2. deild. NSÍ were the first to be relegated, finishing the season without winning any of their 12 matches. Fram Tórshavn were the first team to be promoted, though their time in the top flight was short lived and were relegated after one season. The new system and increased number of teams in the league gave more clubs a chance to play in the top division. In 1979 the Faroe Islands Football Association was founded and they took control of the football league, this brought more changes and the number of clubs in 1. deild was expanded to eight. In 1987 there was no relegated from the league, as the number of clubs was to be expanded to ten and from the 1988 season onwards, two clubs would be relegated and two promoted into 1. deild.

Since 1992 teams in the Faroe Islands were invited by UEFA to take part in European competitions. As 1. deild winners in 1991, KÍ Klaksvík entered the Champions League and as Cup winners B36 Tórshavn in the Cup Winners Cup. KÍ lost both matches against Latvian side Skonto Riga, 3-1 and 3-0. While B36 went close against Avenir Beggen, with a 1-1 draw and a 0-1 loss in the away leg, losing 2-1 on aggreagate in the Qualifying round. In the 1990s a relegation play-off was introduced, in which the ninth placed team played the second placed team from 2. deild. Though this was later scraped. Since 1995 teams where awarded 3 points for a win, instead of 2 points as was previously. In 2003 HB Tórshavn won the league and equalled KÍ Klaksvík's record of 17 titles, a year later HB bettered that and won the title for the 18th time. In 2004 1. deild was renamed Formuladeildin for sponsorship reasons. 2. deild adopted the name of 1. deild, the 3rd and 4th tier were named 2. deild and 3. deild. Then 5 years later in 2009, a 3 year deal was agreed with Vodafone and the name was changed again to Vodafonedeildin. In February 2012 the name was changed to Effodeildin, a 3 year deal was agreed with the Faroese petrol company Effo, which earlier has been called Statoil and Esso. A new 4 year deal for the television rights was also agreed, the Football Association sold the rights for a record 64 million DKK, to the sports rights agency Kentaro. Previously, the rights were with Sportfive, which paid around 11 million DKK.